Why do people in the United States call themselves Americans?

Question

Why do we ignore the millions of “Americans” in the other countries that are also part OF America? Don't we need a name for citizens of the USA?

Answer 1

I have always been a USA citizen and have always used USA, instead of referring to our citizens as "Americans". I make the point to citizens and foreigners as well. When I post on Y!A in other countries I make the distinction clear ... we are not the only game in town in the Americas. To make less or allow less than that distinction speaks of insensitivity ... a USA image problem that may become increasingly more than skin deep if we don't actively seek to change it.

Answer 2

I've wondered this myself from time to time. I have always guessed that it somehow goes back to the general colonization of the "New World" as the maps of Amerigo Vespucci popularized the term. But it should at least include Canadians, Mexicans, and Cubans, too, right?

Honestly, I think "The United States of America" is way to generic for the name of a country. What do you think a more accurate term for us should be? USAsians?

Answer 3

Well the citizens are called americans. I think if u live in america u are called an american.

Answer 4

Not really. People from Canada call themselves Canadians, people from Mexico call themselves Mexicans, people from South America call themselves either Brazilians, Guatemalans, Panamanians, etc. I really don't see any problem with overlapping categorization. If you say, "I'm an American" , people usually know that means you are from the USA. Moral of the story ........... If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Answer 5

That's a good question. America is neither a country nor a continent. I call myself a USAian, but I wish I had a better term.

Answer 6

We live in America....Do the math.

Answer 7

What! You mean that there are other countries

Answer 8

You mean like chinese american, african american. india american and so on?